Stacey from Black Creek and Michael from Seymour knew each other in high school, but didn’t really connect until after. The two dated for five years before Michael popped the question — a question Stacey knew was coming. “I knew he was going to ask me because I saw a text of a ring on his phone,” she says. “He had no clue I knew and totally thought I was in the dark.” Michael proposed during a hike at Devil’s Lake, and though Stacey wasn’t surprised by the question, she was surprised to learn that her sister was there, capturing the proposal in pictures.

While planning their wedding, Stacey attended the The Wedding Show at Shopko Hall and settled on an elegant, romantic theme for the day. “I wanted everything to look nice and pretty,” she says. For colors, dusty rose and light mauve kept things soft and lovely. “At David’s Bridal, the colors are ‘ballet’ and ‘quartz.’ Gold was an accent color.”

Michael and Stacey said “I do” at St. Matthew’s church in Green Bay, exchanging rings from Bay Area Diamond Company. Following the ceremony, the bride and groom took photos at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens. “We loved our engagement pictures that were taken at the gardens in Milwaukee. We wanted our wedding pictures to be just as magical.”

Then it was time to celebrate at the Radisson Green Bay! “We had over 350 people, so we had to use the Three Clans room, which is all the ballrooms joined into one.” Stacey and Michael featured a kids table with activities, a memory table, and a guestbook table with a large quilt for people to sign. “We also had a champagne fountain for everyone to enjoy.”

A family-style dinner was catered by the Radisson as well, with chicken and beef tips as the entrée. Later in the night, there were pizzas. For dessert, Michael’s cousin made a wedding cake “mainly for the cutting — but she made it look like a real bakery made it!” In addition to the cake, there were miniature pies, which guests could also take home. “We ordered 400 pies and left with maybe 30. They were a big hit!”

During the reception, Michael and Stacey planned a kissing game with prizes. Spin the wheel, and where it lands determines who has to kiss: the bride and groom, strangers, or entire tables of guests, to name a few. “We also had Fireball shots for people to take; that kept them entertained.”

Of the many moments that made up the day — from standing on tip-toe in the grass for photos to the Best Man’s speech to the crazy humidity — Stacey says that one of her all-time favorite moments was seeing the Radisson reception room. “Walking into the hotel and seeing everything come together, I couldn’t believe it looked so pretty. I can’t believe it all turned out!”

For the day of. She was amazing. Defiantly would recommend people to do the same. Didn’t have to worry about anything she had it all under control. I was not sure what to expect with a day of coordinator. But she blew my mind away. A month before the wedding she was in contact with all my vendors to figure out times and any questions. It was so nice not having to worry about making sure everything went smoothly that day and also have the freedom to find all my vendors and make all the decisions with décor/planning. She came up the night before to go to the rehearsal and meet everyone. Everyone was so impressed with how professional she was.

Mrs.Kailhofer, the owner, was my music teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade. I always told her when I got married I was going to go through her to do my flowers. My mom also went to them for her wedding in 1982, at that time, her husbands parents owned it.

This was a store that my sister and I would walk through when we were downtown green bay getting coffee. They have a cat that is always there and have really cute little gifts. So when I needed a second florist I knew instantly that I wanted to go through them.

We found this DJ service at the bridal show and loved them instantly. We put down a deposit right there. Mr. Blau is from Seymour. I knew him because he was the DJ for all the Seymour dances. So it was cool we got him. Also his assistant for the night was his son. He made everything super easy and was very funny. Improvised with the kissing with like a pro. No one realized that it was empty by accident.

I can’t say enough about her! Michael and I are awkward people I feel like I never take a good pic. And she made it so easy. Her vibe was so friendly that its impossible not to love her. Our pics looked incredible I never loved a pic I was in so much. And there was a bunch of pics I loved not just one. And she does these tricks while doing it. Like there’s this one that she wants you to giggle and kiss and then giggle while pulling away. It feels weird doing it but the pics look so nice. And when we needed an extra hour she had no problem with it. Everyone loved her and he assistant. Also they sent a nice little present before the wedding, so we could have a date night and chill together. It was very kind of them.

After meeting at the University of Green Bay, Mariah and Brock were surprised to learn just how much they had in common, especially that they were both born and raised in Sturgeon Bay, Door County. “We had a very natural connection,” Mariah says. “After dinner, we saw a terrible movie, and the rest is history! Four years later, here we are married.”

The road to the altar started at Bay Area Diamonds, a ring shop where Mariah fell in love with a ring designed by Mark Schneider. One year later, Brock and Mariah went back to that same store, only to find the dream ring had disappeared from the case. “I was told it wasn’t being made anymore,” Mariah says. “The whole time, Brock had already been to the store and worked with Bay Area Diamond and Mark Schneider to have one made from the original mold.”

One day in January, Mariah and Brock went to her parents’ house for a Packers game. Walking to the front door, there were rose petals all around, and peering out of the windows were many curious and unexpected faces. “I finally realized what was happening,” Mariah laughs. Brock got down on one knee, and Mariah started bawling. “Then I saw the ring. The ring that was ‘no longer made.’ The ring I thought I could never have.” Inside, Brock and Mariah’s parents, grandparents, and close friends were waiting to celebrate.

The happy couple made sure to work with Bay Area Diamondand Mark Schneider to make their wedding bands, too. “We have a strong appreciation for Mark and the staff at Bay Area Diamond in Green Bay. Their services are flawless.” Mariah also found her wedding dress in Green Bay — a gorgeous Stella York gown at Tie the Knot Bridal Boutique.

Stone Harbor Resort-Wedding Ceremony

Everything from the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony to the reception was held at Stone Harbor Resort. “Merredith at Stone Harbor was incredibly helpful with any and all questions we had regarding our venue and planning.” On the day of the wedding, Mariah pulled up to the outdoor ceremony in her dad’s muscle car. “All of my family knew right away: ‘Mike’s bringing his daughter in the Cuda!’ As for Brock’s family, this was a surprise, and loved by all!” Brock’s uncle officiated the ceremony. “He did an incredible job. We felt so at ease; nerves able to rest.”

Stone Harbor Resort

For wedding photos, the bridal party went up to Bailey’s Harbor and stopped at Door County Brewing Company. For couples photos, the bride and groom went to the Ridges Sanctuary Trail/Boardwalk. Then it was time to party! The reception was held at the Stone Harborballroom, and there was no shortage of memorable moments.

“We loved that both the best man and our good friend from Sweden were able to give speeches at dinner. We also loved watching the video our parents made, with pictures of us growing up — talk about blackmail! — and pictures with our family and friends. Then there was the temporary tattoo station; they were all gone by the end of the evening! The tattoos were of our faces, and they were probably the biggest hit of the night.”

Dinner and drinks were catered by Stone Harbor and featured a family-style dinner topped off with complimentary Spotted Cow all night long. Dessert was a lineup of delicious cupcakes in flavors like cherry, red velvet, lemon, and chocolate.

Mariah’s biggest pointer for anyone currently planning a wedding: “Keep your bridal party and all of your vendors informed. With a timeline and duties shared weeks prior, the day and week of the wedding can be everything you dreamed off — and less stress!”

Katie from Chicago and Nick from Sheboygan met at the University of Michigan Dental School through mutual friends. During their first year of dating, Nick visited Katie in Chicago and the two planned a “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off” day, complete with a baseball game, boat ride, dinner, and an impromptu slow dance by a fountain while waiting for the train.

Three years later, the two went back to Chicago for dinner at their favorite restaurant. “Afterwards, Nick had a car drive us around the city, not knowing where we were going to end up,” Katie remembers. “The car parked, and Nick and I walked to none other than the fountain. He got on one knee and told me the night we danced there the first time was when he knew he wanted to marry me. We slow danced again in the same spot, then spent the night drinking champagne and celebrating!”

Nick and Katie set the date for an August wedding at theOsthoff Resort. The theme: Modern, with a nod to Nantucket. The Osthoff handled nearly everything, including Katie’s hair stylist, courtesy of the Aspira Salon, and flowers by Victoria Vonner of Osthoff in Bloom. Discovery Coach provided all transportation.

Before the Osthoff reception, the bride and groom said “I do” at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, which is over 100 years old. “My favorite part was saying our vows to each other,” Katie says. The couple exchanged rings from Rudnik Jewelers. Nick’s favorite moment of the ceremony: The kiss!

Then it was time to party. “The Osthoff provided the utmost, in terms of customer service, food, beverages, and desserts.” There were hot passed hors d’oeuvres of beef wellington, crab cakes, and warm brie bites. Dinner was a choice of filet mignon, salmon, or mushroom ravioli. The open bar offered top-shelf liquor, though out-of-towners seemed more excited about the barrels of Spotted Cow. The meal was topped off with a sweet red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.

Outside of the scrumptious food, beverages, and service at the Osthoff, Katie says she and Nick had lots of favorite parts of their reception: “Our Rat Pack cocktail singer, Bill Froula, for one. We also had an appearance from the Syrena Polish Dance Troop, who performed a traditional wedding dance for us. I was the only one who knew about it — it was perfect to see the look on Nick’s face. The dance floor was packed all night with friends and family. We did a legacy dance, and Nick’s grandparents won with 64 years of marriage!”

Katie’s advice for future brides is simple: “Know that at the end of the day, the most important thing isn’t a thing — it’s the love between you and your husband.”Vendors:

Everything a couple needs to plan and prepare for a wedding!
Featuring 180 wedding professionals exhibiting in two buildings!

Friday, January 18, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.Cake Dive at 7:30pm p.m. : Attendees can see if the shoes fits for a chance to participate in the cake dive and win great prizes.
Bridal makeovers will also be offered on Friday by Paul Mitchell The School.

Saturday, January 19, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.Fashion shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Beautiful dresses and modern bridal party needs from local salons will showcased!

Both daysHourly door prizes to be awarded both Friday and Saturday!
Register at the door or skip the line when you buy advance tickets and register online.

Wedding Trend Displays
Dream looks come to life created by vendors you can connect with at the show.

Groom’s Lounge sponsored by The Automobile Gallery- Men!
Kick back and relax!

Sam Dekker, a former Wisconsin Badger and currently a forward for the Washington Wizards, and Olivia Harlan, a reporter from ESPN, didn’t meet on the court or during a post-game interview. These two sports lovers actually met as so many other brides and grooms do: through a mutual friend!At first, Olivia wasn’t so sure about the set-up, but when the two met, everything clicked. “Sam was so funny, quick witted, sincere, humble, and easy to be around,” she says. “We fell in love very fast. Our first date was watching a Packers game at a bar, and the first time we said ‘I love you’ was one month later—at a Packers game!” The Packers hold a special place in Olivia’s heart; her grandfather was the team’s CEO.
Sam proposed to Olivia in his home town of Sheboygan, where the two were spending the summer. “It was very intimate and random!” Olivia laughs. “That day, we had worked out and gone to Wal Mart. I was so caught off guard! It was very romantic and simple.”

Whistling Swan

The couple planned an elegant, black tie wedding in Door County, sticking to a color palette of black, white, and cream. The rehearsal dinner took place at The Whistling Swan in Fish Creek, a family-favorite restaurant. “All of the groomsmen stayed there as well, so we had the whole place to ourselves!” The ceremony and reception were both held at the Horseshoe Bay Golf Club.

The White Gull Inn | Fish Creek, WI

Under a white, sky-high tent trimmed with sweeps of greenery and crystal chandeliers, Olivia and Sam said “I do.” Olivia walked down the aisle to the theme from Gone With the Wind—“a favorite movie in my family and my name sake: Olivia de Havilland,” she says. The bride and groom chose to do a sand ceremony to signify their unity. Olivia poured sand from her and Sam’s trip to Jerusalem, symbolizing their foundation in faith. Sam’s parents poured sand from his home town, and Olivia’s parents poured sand from where they live—Door County.

Following the ceremony was the first of two cocktail hours: one before and one after dinner. “To pay homage to Wisconsin supper clubs, we served traditional supper club drinks—a grasshopper, pink squirrel, and brandy alexander.” Lavender was incorporated throughout the meal, with lavender sprigs in the champagne glasses and a lemon-lavender wedding cake.

The space was decorated with a mix of modern touches and antique furniture from Relics Vintage Rentals. Flowers came from Buds N’ Bloom in De Pere, Wisconsin. “Jerad was the best,” Olivia says. “His vision is so extravagant and beautiful. He worked tirelessly to transform the tent from the ceremony to the after party, while we had dinner.”

Monzu Bakery

Horseshoe Bay Golf Club

Horseshoe Bay Golf Club | Buds N Bloom

Horseshoe Bay Golf Club | Buds N Bloom

Monzu | Wedding Cake

Monzu Bakery | Green Bay, WI

Making the evening really special, Olivia and Sam had cigar rollers at the reception, rolling honey-dipped cigars. “Everyone loved that!” The entertainment came courtesy of Platinum, a band based out of Milwaukee. “No one wanted to leave the dance floor. We stole them from a friend’s wedding, and would do it again and again!” There was also an incredible fireworks show after sunset and a sparkler send-off to end the evening.

“I’ve never felt such tangible love in one place,” Olivia reflects. “It was overwhelming. You couldn’t tell who was Sam’s family or my family, his friend or my friend. Everyone became close over the weekend, and I loved looking out and seeing the nonstop laughter. We’re the first of our friends to get married, so it was a young, rowdy crowd. I wouldn’t have had it any other way!”

Vendors:

Event Planner

Door County Event Planners (Carrie Baldwin) We LOVED Carrie Baldwin-Smith with Door County Event Planners! She has become a good friend.

Breann from Green Bay and Ross from Pella, Iowa, met during pharmacy school at Drake University, but their paths never really crossed outside of the classroom. That was until they both moved to St. Louis after graduation, where they met up with some fellow Drake alumni to explore their new city. “We started dating about five months later, and the rest is history!”

Ross planned to propose to Breann one Saturday night, after Breann got home from work. He set up a memory lane of pictures from their relationship and prepared Breann’s favorite meal. When she got home, she walked through memory lane, which ended with Ross down on one knee. “We spent the rest of the evening eating dinner, calling our families, and ended the night with one of our favorite activities: going to a movie.”

Movies played a huge role in Ross and Breann’s wedding theme. In planning their wedding, Breann attended the Wedding Show Summer Edition at the Resch Center in Green Bay. “I’m glad I took two years to plan, since I was doing it all myself,” Breann says. “I loved the planning process and everything turned out how I wanted it to.”

The two said “I do” in the church where Breann’s father grew up, which is the same church Breann attended from kindergarten through high school. Following the ceremony, the wedding party hopped on a Lamers Busand stopped to ride the roller coaster and merry-go-round at Bay Beach— a fun surprise for the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Then it was on to the movie-centric reception at the Tundra Lodge Resort and Conference Center. “Laura from Tundra was awesome. She sat down with us and saw our vision for what we needed for the night and made sure it all happened. We didn’t have to worry about anything the day of the wedding!”

“The reception was truly amazing — we had such an incredible time!” The dancing was a highlight of the evening. “I thought we were going to jump so hard we would fall through the floor to the wedding below!” Breann laughs. Dinner and drinks were catered by the Tundra Lodge and featured signature king and queen cocktails.

The movie-themed décor featured a lot of DIY by Breann and Ross. There were Star Wars posters with the bride and groom’s faces in place of Leia and Luke’s to welcome the guests to the reception. The guest book was made up of fake movie posters created from Ross and Breann’s engagement photos, and each table was themed to be a different film. Instead of clinking glasses at dinner for the newlyweds to kiss, the DJ played songs from each table’s movie, and if the table recognized their song, they could stand up and cheer for a kiss.

Other fun touches included a Mission Impossible photo challenge, where Ross and Breann ran around the room with their photographer to snap a quick picture with each dinner table — all while the DJ played the Mission Impossible theme song. “It was so much fun and our guests really got into it, using props from their centerpieces. We made it through all 20 tables with a few seconds to spare!”

There was also a powerpoint of childhood photos, curated by Breann’s dad, and a rather unique first dance. “It went from the standard slow dance into a segment from Beauty & the Beast’s ballroom dance into a dance-off between the bride and bridesmaids vs. the groom and groomsmen.” In the end, Breann says she can’t name an all-time favorite thing she planned for the wedding. Rather she says, “The entire day was perfect! Nothing went wrong, that I know of. And in the end, I married my best friend!”

Lauren from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Steve from Madison were set up by friends and family. “We couldn’t be more thankful to them!” At the time, Lauren was living in downtown Chicago and Steve was in Madison, so they would never have met without the help of their match-making loved ones. “It was fireworks from the start, since we literally met to watch the Fourth of July fireworks on Lake Monona. Everyone plotted to get us to attend. We spent the following three years traveling back and forth between cities on weekends.”

Steve popped the question while the two were on a romantic weekend get-away in Door County. “After checking into an adorable bed and breakfast, Steve suggested we go for a walk along the waterfront during sunset,” Lauren recalls. “At the end of the boardwalk, he turned on one of our favorite songs on his phone, and we slow danced under a lamppost before he got down on one knee. We were the only two people. It was wonderfully romantic.”

Lauren and Steve planned a beautiful wedding at The Paine Art Center & Gardens. “The Paine is a Tudor Revival-style country estate with elegant gardens. Naturally, we wanted to pull that into the overall look of our wedding and make sure what we did complemented the grounds. We landed on a cross between California wine country and English garden for our wedding.”

Click on any image to enlarge.

Martina Liana Gown

Martina Liana

First look moment.

Steve works in the beverage distribution industry, and so has visited the Napa Valley often for work. That’s where he and Lauren drew a lot of their inspiration. “I love the sun-drenched, rolling hills, warm creams and blushes, and romantic candlelight that embody the wine country feel,” Lauren says. They landed on a blush, cream, and white color palette, with gold accents and small pops of navy blue. Planning the look and feel of the wedding was one of Lauren’s favorite things: “There are so many beautiful looks for weddings these days, and a lot of creative vendors who can bring those looks to life.”

For Lauren, oe of those standout vendors was Jaclyn from Feisty Flowers. “She impressed us with her talent, taste, and style, as well as her ability to really listen to us as clients and bring the vision we had in mind to life. She made sure each element brought something to the table, from the delicate votive candles to the sheer ivory fabric cascading across the arbor to my beautiful bridal bouquet. Absolutely nothing was missed. I can’t thank her enough!”

Click on any image to enlarge.

Wedding ceremony at the The Paine Art Center & Gardens

Feisty Flowers

Bouquet by Feisty Flowers

Feisty Flowers

Stunning floral draping from Feisty Flowers

Both the ceremony and reception took place at The Paine Art Center & Gardens. Lauren’s top two moments from the ceremony: “The first was when our flower girl, Emma, walked down the aisle. She was incredibly poised; you can see the amazing woman she is going to become. The second moment was when Steve and I turned to look at my brother, who officiated the ceremony. I swear I saw tears in his eyes!” Following the ceremony, photos were also taken at The Paine. “Your wedding day flies by, and we wanted to spend as much time as possible with our guests.”

The reception was held in The Paine’s conservatory, an elegant space of white and glass overlooking the new formal garden. “We did a mix of banquet tables running in parallel down the center, with rounds along the exterior. It was really important to us that everyone feel included, and this mixed approach to the seating was perfect.” Lauren looks back with particular fondness on the moment she and Steve got to see the space before guests arrived. “We were blown away,” she says. “It was really special to get to share that moment together.”

Click on any image to enlarge.

Appetizers from Zuppa’s Market, Cafe and Catering

Zuppa’s Market Cafe
& Catering

Seeing the beautifully decorated venue space for the first time!

Zuppa’s Market Cafe
& Catering

Zuppa’s Market Cafe
& Catering

Dinner and drinks were catered by Zuppas Market Cafe and Catering. “The food was delicious — we heard lots of compliments. The drinks were easy for us to choose, since Steve is in the beverage industry. He’s an expert!” Looking back, Lauren’s advice for future brides revolves a lot around choosing vendors: “It’s important to lock down certain vendors far more in advance than you might think. We should have booked transportation earlier than we did. Trolleys in Wisconsin book quickly! We also should have scheduled our engagement photo shoot before the save the dates — it would have made choosing a photo to include on them a lot easier!”

Click on any image to enlarge.

First dance

In the end, with the help of wonderful vendors, the support and love of family and friends, and the gorgeous, historic Paine as a backdrop, Steve and Lauren’s wedding day turned out to be one of utter enchantment. The three words they’d use to describe it: “Elegant, lovely, and joyous.”

More than 100 local wedding vendors! Everything you need to plan your dream wedding!

Venues- Do you have your reception location yet? Meet with a variety of venues and see what they have to offer!Wedding Cakes- Meet bakers that can craft beautiful artistic cakes! Delicious Samples will be availableMusic- Meet the DJ’s that will keep your guests on the dance floor all nightFlowers- Florists will be displaying stunning examples of their work and on hand to answer your questions.Photography-Talented local photographers will be displaying their work and will be on hand to answer your questionsAttire- Bridal Gowns & Formal Wear will be on display

Samantha and Benjamin met at Western Racquet Fitness and Tennis Club, where Samantha worked the front desk and Benjamin went to workout. The two exchanged friendly hellos for a while, until one day, Benjamin asked Samantha on a date. “At dinner, we ended up losing track of time and stayed until it was time for the restaurant to close. After that, we never looked back!” Benjamin popped the question along a walking path that he and Samantha had discovered while living in Grafton. “There’s a particular spot on the bluffs under a tree where we first said ‘I love you,’” he says. “I took her back to that tree, got down on one knee, and asked the woman of my dreams to marry me. Her eyes lit up and she said ‘YES!’ immediately.”

The happy couple planned an elegant, formal wedding with a church ceremony and a reception at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay. A black, white, and champagne color scheme kept things classic. The moment that sticks out to Samantha the most from the entire day happened at the ceremony — the moment when she and Benjamin first saw each other. “We didn’t do a first look, so the first time we saw each other was as I began walking down the aisle at church with my dad,” she says. “That’s when everything about the day hit me; it was finally here and we were actually getting married!”

After the “I do’s,” the party moved to the Radisson. “We absolutely loved everything about the Radisson. Michelle was amazing to work with for planning; she’s so organized and gets back to you immediately when you have questions or concerns. One of the best things about the Radisson for a reception is that it’s a hotel, so guests don’t have to worry about driving home. We loved that, and our guests appreciated having a room there, too.”

The reception started in a smaller space, just outside of the main reception hall. “There were cocktails served before dinner, a champagne fountain, and photos on display.” The hall itself was decorated with lots of floral arrangements of varying heights, accentuating the tall ceilings and spacious room. “I loved the gold chargers we chose, too, as it added something a little extra and formal,” Samantha says.

For dinner, the bride and groom chose a family-style meal. “Everyone seemed to love it because it offered a little of everything. For drinks, we chose unlimited beer, wine, and soda all night. Guests were also able to purchase mixed drinks at the bar.” Dessert was a classic wedding cake flavored with amaretto and lemon poppy seed. One of Samantha’s favorite things was the cake table. “We had a beautiful champagne sequin overlay that our cake sat atop, alongside our engraved cake knife and server and custom napkins with our names and wedding date. All of these little details made the reception stunning.”

In addition to these little touches, Samantha says her favorite thing was choosing to have an unplugged wedding. She didn’t want unflattering phone camera photos circulating on social media, or professional photos littered with guests taking pictures on their phones. “I simply wanted a great photographer who would capture all the moments of our day for us to cherish forever,” Samantha says. “We told guests we would share the photo gallery with them, and we did. They were mindful of our request, and many even commented on how much they liked the idea. I love all of our photos and moments that our photographer captured, and our guests have enjoyed looking through the stunning photos as well.”

Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Green Bay. Absolutely loved everything about the Radisson. Michelle was amazing to work with for planning. She is so organized and gets back to you immediately when you have questions or concerns. One of the best parts about the Radisson for a reception is that there is a hotel there so guests do not have to worry about driving home. We loved that and guests appreciated having a room there too.

Taylored Weddings.Highly recommend Mitch from Taylored Weddings! He did an amazing job helping us plan, think ahead about every little detail, and best of all he made our reception so much fun. Guests told us it was the most fun wedding they had ever attended, and we have to agree!

Shaunae Teske Photography. Shaunae is so talented! Her style is very classic and elegant. I don't know how to pick a favorite photo from our wedding because I love them all! I could not be more happy with the photos we have to share forever.